“I know that sex and relationships can be among the most difficult topics to talk about. You deserve a safe, non-judgmental place for these intimate and essential conversations.”
Rachel Zar, PhD, LMFT, CST, (she/her/hers) is a couple and family therapist and an AASECT-certified sex therapist. She is currently a clinician and clinical supervisor at Avid Intimacy in Chicago.
While all sexual or relational concerns are welcome in Rachel’s office, her primary focus is working with those experiencing sexual functioning issues including painful sex (vulvodynia, vaginismus, etc.), difficulty with or inability to orgasm, or low or diminished libido. She also helps clients navigate dating distress or forming and maintaining either traditional or non-traditional relationships. For clients working on general anxiety, major life transitions, or other relational issues, she offers a sex-positive and sex-inclusive approach. She is trauma trained and informed, and she frequently works with those who are healing from past acute or complex trauma. She is an LGBTQ- and kink- affirmative clinician.
Rachel holds a PhD in Clinical Sexology, a Master’s of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy from Northwestern University, and certificates in sex therapy and sexuality education from University of Michigan. She’s worked in multiple private therapy practices throughout Chicago and spent five years with Northwestern Medicine’s Center for Sexual Medicine, working alongside specialized physicians to treat sexual functioning concerns. Rachel is passionate about mentoring other clinicians, and she frequently lectures, writes, and provide expert interviews for the media on myriad sex and relationship topics.
Services Offered
Therapy: Rachel provides individual, couple, and sex therapy both virtually and in person to Illinois residents at AVID Intimacy in Chicago. While she is not currently accepting new clients, she keeps an active waitlist.
Supervision: Rachel is an AASECT Supervisor-in-Training and on the path toward AAMFT-Approved Supervisor status, which means she’s able to offer individual supervision to clinicians of all backgrounds and career stages who are actively pursuing sex therapy certification.
Education: Rachel offers sex education and training for groups of all backgrounds: undergraduate students, graduate students, medical students, therapists, or medical clinicians. Recent workshops Rachel has led include: A System Approach to Genito-Pelvic Pain, Treating Low Libido & Desire Discrepancy, and How to Be An Ally in the Bedroom: A Men’s Q & A. She is happy to tailor workshops to meet your group, practice, or institution’s individual goals.
Contact
Please reach out to inquire about Rachel’s availability for therapy, clinical supervision, speaking/teaching, media, or writing.
